Handling device.



J. M. LOHR.

HANDLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-27. 1915.

1,173,445. Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

[war/Mar JAMES MARTIN LOHB, OF ITHACA, NEW YORK.

HANDLING DEVICE.

Application filed August 27, 1915.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 29, 1916.

Serial No. 47,717.

(DEDICATED TO THE PUBLIC.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MARTIN LOI-IR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Ithaca, county of Tompkins, State of New York, and an employee of the United States Bureau of Mines, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, c. 143, (U. S. Stat, 22, p. 625), and the invention described therein may be used by the Government, or any of its oiiicers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to handling devices, and, though not limited to that use, refers more particularly to means for handling crucibles, such as are used for melting metals, and its object is to provide a device of strong and simple construction which may be readily and securely applied to a crucible, either when positioned in a furnace or to be placed therein, the engaging members whereof will give bottom and lateral support to the crucible, and which nay be easily disengaged without endangering the crucible or its contents.

The use of a cylindrical crucible may often be desirable, as for instance, in melting brass or bronze, but such crucibles cannot be lifted from the furnace by ordinary types of crucible tongs, hence the common form of crucible, having a bilge which is gripped by the tongs, is resorted to. In tilting crucible furnaces, crucibles approximating a cylindrical form are used, with consequent increase in fuel efliciency and furnace capacity, resulting from the form of the crucible and from the relation of surface to volume in such a crucible.

It is known that devices have been patented by which a crucible maybe lifted from the furnace, in which the crucible of cylindrical or other form rests on a movable plunger which may be raised through the bottom of the furnace. But such devices are hard to maintain in repair because they constitute a movable part of the furnace which enters the heated Zone. They also require a joint between the bottom of the furnace and the plunger, which is difficult to seal against access of air, which creates an undesirable draft in some types offurnace, notably electric furnaces. Such plungers are also liable to be rendered useless by the spilling of metal into the furnace, as by the breakage of a crucible.

The invention hereinafter described provides a means of lifting a cylindrical or other form of crucible from such furnaces as those for melting brass or bronze, heated by gas, oil, or electricity, without the use of a plunger, and without interfering with any method adopted for draining metal from the furnace chamber when a crucible breaks in the furnace.

lVhile this invention relates particularly to a means of lifting a cylindrical crucible from the heating chamber of an electric, oil or gas-fired furnace, and conveying said crucible to a suitable pouring shank, it may also be adapted to lifting the common tapered type of crucible by having the loops bent in suitable shape to fit the crucible (as hereinafter described), thus giving exclusive bottom lifting to this type of crucible also, thereby increasing its life, and doing away with the present method of lifting such crucibles, in which the pressure of the tongs is exerted entirely on the curved walls of the crucible, with a resulting short crucible life.

With the above named objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is an elevation of the companion crucible-engaging members shown in disengaged or separated position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the suspension arm; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view illustrating the application of the device to a cylindrical crucible; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the device fully assembled and showing a crucible in position. Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a modified form of the device suitable for operation by a single individual, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a modifiedfo-rm of Objectengaging members as applied to a tapered crucible.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, two object-engaging members 1 and 2 of heat resisting material are provided, the central upper portions being adapted for engagement over a suspension bar 3 which is supported upon a hoisting hook or other attachment 4. The suspension bar is provided with oppositely-turned upwardlyfacing terminal hooks and an upwardly curved central portion, the whole bar having approximately the outline of the letter 7. The engaging members are of similar size, and ofv a width and height proportioned to the dimensions of the crucible or other object to be lifted, though, obviously, such members might be made adjustable, by well-- known methods, to various sized objects. The engaging members are preferably made in the form of continuous loops having parallel sides 7, a bottom bar 8, at right angles therewith, and top portions 9 of inverted V-shape, but when made of material of sufficient strength and rigidity the loops need not be closed but may be interrupted at the bottom portion leaving a space under the central part of the object to be lifted. Likewise the top portions of the engaging members may be of any configuration to enable them to balance freely or hang by their middle points. I

Upon the sides 7 of each of the engaging members at a distance slightly greater than the height of the object to be lifted is bolted a brace bar 10 of the same material as that used for the engaging members, which bars extend a suitable distance from the plane of the engaging members in a direction perpendicular thereto. Centrally of the said brace bars are placed cooperating engaging elements. As shown in the drawing, one of the bars is provided with a vertically extending socket 11 and the other with a pin 12 which extends vertically either up or down (it extends downward in the drawing) and is of a size to just fit snugly in said socket. The pin and socket may be made square or of other suitable shape to key the parts against lateral motion though such motion is automatically resisted by the shape of the loops and suspension bar terminals.

At points near the tops of the engaging members. preferably upon the top bars near their outer ends, 13. are attached handle bars 14 of material of low heat conductivity, each pair of handles comprising parallel members extending in planes perpendicular to the planes of the engaging members and in a direction opposite to that in which the above-mentioned brace bars extend.

While I have described in detail one particular construction of the handling device, I do not wish to limit myself'to this form, as there are other methods by which the principle involved may be carried out, as, for instance, the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, the details of which form the subject-matter of my application for patent (Serial Number 47,716, filed Aug. 27, 1915). This form of my invention comprises companion engaging members 16, 17, of heat-resisting material, the upper parts, 22, of which are angularly disposed to their respective main portions and are united in a common hinge joint, being pivoted on the ends of a fulcrum pin 18 which centrally extends through the terminal eye of a suspension link 19, the axis of said pin being in a straight line passing through the middle point between the planes of the lower part of the engaging members and parallel to the planes thereof. The engaging members are of similar size and of a width and height proportioned to the dimensions of the crucible or other object to be lifted, though obviously members adjustable, by well-known methods, to various sized objects, might be used. The engaging members are preferably made in the form of continuous loops having parallel sides 20, a

bottom bar 21 at right angles therewith, and

top portions 22 of inverted V-shape and angularly disposed inwardly with respect to the planes of the side portions which are normally in vertical position and parallel to each other. At points upon the sides 20 of each of the engaging members, at a distance slightly greater than the height of the object to be lifted. is fixed a brace bar 23 of the same material as that used for the engaging members. The said brace bars are rigid with the engaging members and are provided centrally with pivot portions 24 for a link 25 and lever 26, respectively, which are confined thereon by pins, shoulders, or preferably, collars 27. The link 25 at the end opposite the pivot point terminates in a fan-shaped portion 28 provided centrally with an aperture for a pivot pin 29 and on the outer circumference with notches 30, 31. The lever 26 is pivoted at its inner end on the pin 29 and by means of a series of laterally attached apertured lugs 32, 33 and 34, supports a locking rod 35 provided at its lower end with a. tooth 36 for en aging in the notches of the link a rocking lever 39 the lower end of which 1 is connected with the locking rod by a pivot pin 40. The parts described are all constructed of heat-resisting material and the portions grasped by the hand of the operator are heat-insulated.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified type of engaging member adapted for handling crucibles of the tapered type. The bottom portions 20 of the side members 20, in this form of the device, are bent inwardly to con form to the downward taper of the crucible, the bottom-supporting bars 21 being correspondingly shortened. In all other respects this form of the invention is identical with that shown in Fig. 5 and described in detail above. The engaging members of this type of apparatus, likewise, may be in the form of continuous loops or may have interrupted bottom bars.

WVhen the object to be lifted is a crucible, it should be supported on a crucible block somewhat higher than the thickness of the bottom of the engaging members and with a width slightly less than the distance between said members when in engaged position around the crucible.

When the device is in actual use, the sides of the engaging members contact with the sides of the crucible and the bottom bars as shown in Fig. 3 seat against the bottom face of the crucible along parallel lines somewhat less than halfway from the outer edges to the center of the crucible, their position being determined by the width of the engaging members which should be such as to hold the crucible securely, preferably approximating the radius of the crucible.

The manipulation and use of the handling device first described, in removing a crucible from a furnace, is as follows: The suspension bar is centrally supported by a hoisting device and the terminal hooks are engaged with the apices of the V-shaped upper portions of the engaging members, the pin on the brace bar not being engaged in the socket in the other bar but resting against said bar and thus spreading the lower portions of the engaging members apart. The whole apparatus is then moved over the furnace and lowered so that the bottom parts of the engaging loops 1, 2, slip down over the sides of the crucible, an operator on each side meanwhile grasping the horizontal handles and holding the loops somewhat in place. When the loops are near the bottom of the furnace chamber, the operator handling the loop 1 having the socket pushes the bottom of the loop under the crucible (the crucible resting on a suitable block as above indicated) and holds the loop vertically against the crucible, and the operator manipulating the loop 2 having the pin slips the bottom of that loop under the crucible, holds the loop vertically and allows the pin to slip into the socket, thus locking the two loops about the crucible. If the pin projects vertically upward, then the loop 2 having the pin is placed in position first and the loop having the socket is slipped into position last. When the loops are thus engaged, the whole device with the firmly held crucible is drawn from the furnace by operating the hoisting pulley system. The insulated handles permit of the positioning of the load in any place desired and the handling device is then disengaged by reversing the operations above described.

In manipulating the other type of the device, the operator may regulate the height With one hand by adjusting the free end of a pulley system to which the device is connected through the link 19, while placing the apparatus in position by means of the other hand on the grip portion of the lever 26. By compressing the rocking lever 39 against the handle the tooth 36 is withdrawn from the upper notch 30 and the handle may then be pushed down until the tooth is opposite the lower notch 31 into which it looks upon the release of the rocking lever. Through this action the engaging members will have been swung oppositely about the fulcrum 18 to their open or engaging position. The length and angular arrangement of the link and lever system is so proportioned that the engaging members in the spread position will just clear the crucible, when lowered. When spread and brought over the crucible, the device is lowered until the bottom bars of both loops are far enough below the bottom of the crucible to clear it, provision being made for this by the use of a crucible block of sufficient height. The locking tooth is then withdrawn from the notch 81 by pressure on the rocking lever 39, the lever arm 26 is raised, and, when the locking tooth is opposite the notch 30, the rocking lever is released and the device is again locked in the position first described. The raising of the lever closes the engaging members about the crucible, and then by means of the pulley system the device, together with the firmly held crucible, is raised. The suspension means and lever 26 permit the placing of the load in any position desired, and the handling device is then disengaged by spreading the engaging members as above described.

Obviously, changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the actual invention, which is pointed out by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Crucible tongs consisting essentially of two loops of heat-resisting material suspended on a suitable bar of heat-resisting material for lifting a cylindrical crucible from the bottom, substantially as described.

2. Crucible tongs consisting essentially of two loops, suspendedon a suitable bar and having a locking device for lifting a cylins drical crucible from the bottom, all of heat.- sistlng te ia ubs an a y as descri d- 3. Crucible tongs consisting essentially of tel-locking means near the upper parts of said side portions for maintaining said members in gripping position.

6. A handling device comprising a pair of object-engaging members, suspension means therefor, and cooperative parts re.- spectively attached to each of the engaging members near their upper central portions for slidingly interlocking and maintaining said parts in engaging position.

7. A handling device comprising engaging members, suspension means flexibly connected with the upper central part thereof, means for manually adjusting said engaging members to the object to be handled, and a latch for holding said adjustment fixed.

8. A handling device comprising a pair of looped engaging members, suspension means flexibly connected with the upper central part thereof, means for manually adjusting said engaging members to the object to be handled, and cooperating latching elements carried by each of said engaging members.

9 A handling device comprising a pair of looped engaging members, means for manually adjusting said engaging members to the object to be handled, and cooperating latching elements slidingly interlocking to maintain said adjustment.

10. A handling device comprising a pair of looped engaging members, suspension means flexibly connected with the upper central part thereof, means for manually adjusting said engaging members to the object to be handled, and cooperating latching elements slidingly interlocking to maintain said adjustment.

11. A handling device comprising a pair of open gripping members having bottom and side bars and upwardly converged top portions, suspension means engaging the apices of said top portions, and means intermediate of said gripping portions for maintaining said parts in gripping position, said means including transverse brace bars attached to the upper side portions of the gripping members each carrying a member for interlocking engagement with a member on the opposite bar.

12. A handling device comprising a pair of open engaging members having inverted V-shaped top portions, a suspension bar therefor having an upwardly curved central portion, for engagement with a hoisting hook, and terminal hooks into which the top portions of said gripping members closely engage, the shape of the cooperative parts tending normally to maintain the engaging members in parallel relation.

13. In a handling device a pair of objectengaging loops, suspension means therefor, brace bars extending across the upper central portions of said loops and bowed outwardly in a plane perpendicula to the general plane of the loops, said brace bars having cooperating locking parts.

14. A handling device comprising a pair of object-engaging loops, cooperating looking elements rigidly attached to each of said loops, and a pair of manipulating handles rigidly attached to each of said loops and substantially at right angles thereto.

15. A handling device comprising a pair of object-engaging loops, brace bars extending across the upper central portions of said loops and curved outwardly in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of the loops, said brace bars having cooperating locking parts, and manipulating handles rigidly attached to'the upper portions of said loops.

16, In a handling device a pair of objectengaging loops, suspension means therefor, brace bars extending across the upper central portions, of said loops and curved out.- wardly in a plane perpendicular to the general plane of the loops, one of the brace bars being provided centrally with a vertical socket and the other brace bar having a vertical pin for sliding engagement with said socket.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES MARTIN LOHR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the -."Co;nm issioner of Patents. Washington, I). C. 

